Greensboro, NC: In a matchup for supremacy of ACC basketball, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defeated the Florida State Seminoles by a score of 80-75. The win for the Yellow Jackets marked their 4th conference championship in school history, including their first since 1993. At 17-8, Tech managed to clinch their first NCAA Tournament appearance for the first time in over a decade.
How it Played Out
The overall game was relatively close for all four quarters, as the two teams went back and forth throughout the entirety of the matchup. FSU earned an early nine-point lead, but the Yellow Jackets managed to storm back within very little time. A barrage of offensive firepower proved to be apparent, as both teams had four players within double figures on the evening.
In the first half, FSU struggled to play to the best of their abilities, as the team committed many costly mistakes that resulted in Georgia Tech baskets. The Yellow Jackets used their capitalization of turnovers to jump out to a 31-30 lead at the half. At this point in time, it was imminent that Georgia Tech would not be an easy pushover for the ‘Noles.
In the second half, FSU came out swinging with an impressive 14-4 run. However, the lead for the ‘Noles quickly disintegrated, as Georgia Tech would eventually take back the advantage halfway through the second half. The Yellow Jackets never looked back from there on out, as FSU struggled to keep up with Tech for the rest of the game.
Notable Georgia Tech Players
For Georgia Tech, Michael Devoe stole the night with a team-high 20 points. Jordan Usher, Moses Wright, and Jose Alvardo also put up double digits in the scoring category. As a whole, the Yellow Jackets went 27-for-62 (43.5%) on field goals and 21-for-28 (75%) on free throws. Tech executed with very few mistakes throughout the night, as they allowed only seven turnovers and one steal.
Notable Florida State Players
For FSU, Scottie Barnes played arguably his best game of the season with a career-high 21 points. His valiant efforts carried over to other aspects of the game, as he tallied three assists and four rebounds. Balsa Koprivica, M.J. Walker, and Anthony Polite were among the other Seminoles to put up respectable performances in one category or another. As a team, Florida State shot 36-for-65 from the field and 11-for-14 on free throws. The ‘Noles also outclassed Yellow Jackets on rebounds by a tally of 36-24. However, the offensive play by FSU ultimately proved to qualify as null and void, as the team struggled against a common enemy throughout the night.
That common enemy, you ask?
Turnovers.
Indeed, even the best of the best sometimes forget to brush up on the basic fundamentals of basketball. The same was no different for FSU, as the team committed a whopping season-high 25 turnovers. Ironically, the leading scorers for the Seminoles proved to be the biggest culprits, as Barnes and Walker gave the ball away a combined 14 times. When asked about the overall game, FSU head coach Leonard Hamilton expressed admiration for Georgia Tech.
As Hamilton stated, “You’ve got to give them credit. They have a knack for forcing turnovers unlike anyone that we’ve seen, especially the ability to steal and knock the ball out of your hands and then not foul,” Hamilton added. “That’s a skill that they have developed to the highest, and you have to give them credit for being who they are a lot better than we were able to be who we are.”
The Next Step for FSU Basketball
As one would expect, there’s much speculation into where Florida State will place in the NCAA Tournament rankings. The idea of a 3 seed seemed possible before Saturday, but after another missed opportunity late in the season by FSU, it seems like the team is trending in the opposite direction. If the ‘Noles wish to make a tournament run, they will have to clean up on their simple mistakes and jitters. That’s easier said then done, as a single loss will end the team’s season from here on out. However, if HC Leonard Hamilton can rally the troops, things could pan out well for FSU.
When asked about FSU and the NCAA Tournament, Hamilton stated, “Well, I think that the mindset that we have to be in is learn from the mistakes we make, and hopefully we will be smarter and execute better going to the tournament because we realize what our shortcomings have been. I think we’ll be mentally prepared. I expect us to give tremendous effort.”
The selection show for the NCAA Tournament will kick off at 6:00 PM EST on CBS. Although the ‘Noles have clearly earned a spot in the tournament, many fans will anxiously be awaiting the seeding of the team.